Programmes and initiatives that promote social opportunities and support for young people in the country

Young people are a key resource in building the future of any society. In Uzbekistan, the State pays particular attention to supporting young people through various programmes and initiatives aimed at social empowerment, education and vocational training. Over the past seven years, more than 100 laws and decisions relating to young people have been adopted and more than 200 types of benefits have been granted.

The foundation for the effective implementation of reforms in the area of youth policy in our country is a solid legal and regulatory framework. Thus, since 2016, the country's youth policy has become a priority and is reflected in the adopted Law ‘On State Youth Policy’ (Law of the Republic of Uzbekistan, dated 14.09.2016, No. LRU-406 ‘On State Youth Policy’).

It specifies such basic concepts as ‘youth’, ‘young family’, ‘young specialist’, ‘youth entrepreneurship’ and others. According to the document, young people are citizens between the ages of fourteen and thirty. The basic principles of State youth policy in Uzbekistan are openness, transparency, active participation of young people in decision-making, support and encouragement of youth initiatives, the prioritisation of spiritual, moral and cultural values and non-discrimination.

In recent years, an entirely new system for the implementation of State youth policy has been set up to give effect to the basic principles of the law. These are the youth parliaments established under the Senate and the Legislative Chamber of the Oliy Majlis. Youth parliamentarism is generally defined as a system for representing the rights and legitimate interests of young people as a special social group that participates in decision-making processes at the State level. In world practice, the system of youth parliaments was introduced to enable young people to express their interests and raise problems that remain outside the State's field of vision.

In order to protect the rights, freedoms and legitimate interests of young people, as well as their active involvement in decision-making and participation in the country's democratic, social and economic reforms, and to provide them with opportunities to realise their scientific and creative potential, the Cabinet of Ministers of the Republic of Uzbekistan adopted on 18 January 2021 a decision on the approval of the Concept for the Development of State Youth Policy in Uzbekistan until 2025 (Decision of the Cabinet of Ministers of the Republic of Uzbekistan, dated 18.01.2021, No. 23). The document is based on a general principle - ‘Working with young people in their interests’, which is also set out in the UN Strategy ‘Youth 2030’.

Goal 70 of the Strategy for the Development of New Uzbekistan for 2022-2026 sets out further improvements in State youth policy, in particular the safeguarding of the rights, freedoms and legitimate interests of young people; the protection of their lives and health, the improvement of conditions for the use of qualified medical assistance, the enhancement of medical literacy and the strengthening of healthy lifestyles; and assistance in their spiritual, intellectual, physical and moral development. In addition to these legal instruments, the following State programmes and initiatives to support young people are being implemented. (Presidential Decree No. PD-60 of 28 January 2022).

1. State Programme ‘Youth - Our Future’

One of the most significant initiatives in the Republic of Uzbekistan is the programme ‘Youth - our future’, approved by presidential decree on 27 June 2018. It aims to create conditions for the active involvement of young people in socio-economic processes. The programme includes projects for the development of small and medium-sized businesses among young people, provides preferential loans for launching start-ups, and the creation of special business incubators.

The programme has done the following :

· Young entrepreneurs were supported by creating favourable conditions for starting and developing their businesses.

- Educational and training programmes have been conducted to improve the qualifications and professional training of young people.

- Initiatives have been taken to ensure the employment of young people, including through the creation of new jobs and the promotion of self-employment.

- Preferential loans and subsidies have been provided for young professionals and entrepreneurs.

- Cultural, sports and social projects aimed at the all-round development of young people have been implemented.

2. Centres for Youth Innovation and Technology

Youth Innovation Centres have been established to stimulate interest in science and technology. In these centres, young people have the opportunity to study modern technologies, robotics, programming and acquire the necessary skills for further career development. An important part of the centres' work is the support of creative and innovative projects, which allows young people to show their talents and implement ideas.

Sample centre information:

Kelajak Ovozi Centre for Youth Initiatives

·       Address: Tashkent city, 2, Mustakillik Ave.

• Phone: (+998 71) 233 78 10
• E-mail: [-]
• This centre supports youth projects and holds forums, educational camps and trainings in Tashkent and other regions​.

Uzbek-Japanese Youth Innovation Centre

·       Address: Tashkent city, Universitetskaya str. 2-B, Almazarsky district

• Phone: (+998 71) 207-17-98
• E-mail: [-]
• The centre focuses on research and technology projects, supporting young engineers and scientists.

3. Education and training programmes

Access to quality education is an important element of social support for young people. Uzbekistan is introducing various educational programmes aimed at improving the level of training of young specialists.

Presidential, creative and specialised schools operate in the country in order to identify and support young talents and gifted children and to develop their intellectual abilities, and their number in the country is increasing from year to year.

Programmes for vocational training and support for entrepreneurial initiatives by young people have been approved and are in operation. Vocational training centres operate throughout the country, offering more than 50 types of vocational training, including for members of the younger generation.

International educational exchanges and co-operation with foreign universities and institutes are being developed. The state actively supports students' study abroad through scholarships and grants. In 2023, 151 thousand young people used educational loans. Another 110 thousand students from low-income families were allocated 332 billion soums to pay for their contracts. As a result, higher education enrolment increased from 9 per cent to 42 per cent and the number of universities from 77 to 212.

Currently, 110,000 young men and women study abroad. In order to expand educational opportunities, the International Baccalaureate and A-level programmes will be introduced as an experiment in the academic lyceums of the country from the 2024/2025 academic year. They will cover 73 lyceums at universities. Students who have received a certificate under these programmes will be admitted to these universities without exams, but on a contractual basis.

In addition, the President reminded that today Uzbeks take SAT (Scholastic Assessment Test) examinations in mathematics, English and scientific thinking - a standardised test for admission to universities in the United States, as well as some universities in Singapore, Turkey, Hong Kong and Japan. Applicants who score above 75% on these tests receive grants to prestigious foreign universities..

4. Employment and entrepreneurship initiatives

Programmes aimed at vocational training and skills development are being developed to increase employment among young people. The state actively supports initiatives that encourage entrepreneurship among young people by offering tax incentives and simplified conditions for starting a business.

A presidential decree in February 2024 approved the State programme for the implementation of the strategy ‘Uzbekistan - 2030’ in the Year of Support for Youth and Business (Presidential Decree, dated 21.02.2024, No. PD-37). It sets out a number of tasks to address the problems of young people and realise their potential, and to provide employment through training in in-demand professions. In particular, 925,000 young men and women are to be employed this year. In addition, 300,000 young people will graduate from colleges, technical schools and higher education institutions.

Within the framework of the Decree, additional opportunities will be created for youth businesses. At least 40 per cent of the loans allocated under the family entrepreneurship programme will be used for this purpose. Young Entrepreneur’ competitions will be held, and winners with the best business projects and ideas will be sent abroad for advanced training.

Plans are also being implemented to employ 100,000 young people in new industrial projects, 150,000 in the service sector, and 200,000 through legalisation of jobs and self-employment. In the field of agriculture, there are ample opportunities for employment. In recent years, 200,000 hectares of land released from cotton and cereals have been distributed among the population for farming. This year it is planned to allocate another 60 thousand 500 hectares of land to young people.

5. Social and psychological support

Special attention is paid to the psychological well-being of young people. Under the Healthy Youth programme, initiatives are being implemented to provide free psychological assistance, training and seminars on the subject of mental health. Events are organised to promote healthy lifestyles, sports and the cultural development of young people.

To summarise, we can say that supporting young people in Uzbekistan is a priority task for the State. Programmes and initiatives aimed at developing social opportunities, education and entrepreneurship create conditions for the younger generation to actively participate in the life of the country and build their future. As a result of such efforts, young people in Uzbekistan are given real chances for self-realisation and success.

Support to the mahalla  

An important factor in the effective implementation of youth policy is work with the younger generation at the makhalla level. For example, it is currently implemented vertically in four stages: makhalla - district/city - region - republic. The makhallas have a youth leader whose tasks include forming a ‘youth balance’; maintaining the ‘Yoshlar Daftari’ and ‘Yoshlar Portali’ electronic platforms; organising the leisure time of young people in the makhallas; holding cultural and educational events; increasing the social activity of young people; stimulating the talents, abilities and initiatives of young men and women; educating the younger generation in the spirit of patriotism; systematic work with young people prone to committing offences; and providing assistance in social and educational activities.

Thus, Uzbekistan's youth policy is oriented directly towards the needs of the younger generation and takes into account the suggestions of young men and women themselves. Large-scale reforms are being implemented to improve the quality of life of children and young people by recognising and protecting their rights and interests. These reforms cover a wide range of areas, including education, health care, employment and cultural and spiritual development.

The State allocates significant resources to provide youth with education, employment, housing and social support. In addition, resources are allocated to programmes that contribute to the formation of a new generation with high moral principles and a commitment to national traditions. It is important to note that at the same time the link with global trends is maintained, which helps young people to adapt to the challenges of the modern world without losing such important qualities as love for the homeland, respect for the history and culture of their country, and openness to international co-operation and innovation.

As a result, the main goal is achieved - to provide the younger generation with the opportunity to take a worthy place in society, to develop in accordance with modern trends, while maintaining loyalty to the Motherland and respect for national and universal values.